Sports Physical Exams Clinic Q&A

If you are looking for a trusted clinic to bring your child to for a quick and thorough sports physical near Bradenton, FL, we welcome you to come to PrimeHealth Primary Care! Our board-certified physicians have years of experience providing comprehensive physicals for patients of all ages, from young toddlers to teenagers to adults and the elderly. Besides sports physicals, we also offer school physicals, routine physical exams, drug testing, pre-employment screenings, and Department of Transportation (DOT) physicals. You can find PrimeHealth Primary Care at 3014 53rd Ave East, Bradenton, FL 34203.

While there will inevitably be some overlap in terms of what is involved with a school physical and a sports physical, they generally focus on different things.

When you bring your child to PrimeHealth Primary Care Bradenton for a sports physical, there will be two parts to the physical. First, there will be an evaluation of your child’s medical history, and second, there will be a physical examination. In the first part, the doctor may ask you or your child about any of the following topics:

• Any serious illnesses they or a family member has had
• Any illnesses they currently have, such as asthma, diabetes, or epilepsy
• Previous hospitalizations or surgeries
• Allergies
• Past injuries
• Medication
• Whether your child has ever passed out, experienced dizziness, chest pain, or had trouble breathing during exercise

During the physical examination, your child’s doctor will examine the following:

• Height and weight measurements
• Blood pressure and heart rate
• Vision and hearing screening
• Evaluate their flexibility, joints, posture, and strength
• Using special medical tools and techniques, they will also check your child’s abdomen, ears, heart, lungs, nose, and throat

With this information, your doctor can give you and your child a recommendation as to whether they are cleared to participate in the particular sport, if they require certain modifications or if you should keep an eye out for anything, or if participation is not recommended.

For a school physical, there will also be an evaluation of your child’s medical history with many of the same questions asked. However, additional questions may be asked about their sleep, hygiene, nutritional habits, immunization records, emotional and mental well-being, and any safety concerns. If your child is missing any necessary vaccinations or is due for one, your doctor can administer that to them. As far as the physical examination goes, many of the same evaluations will occur, but your doctor will mostly want to make sure that everything is working fine. They may inform you of any potential concerns should they choose to participate in physical activity and any other health concerns or risks that they are exposed to.

For sure! Primary care clinics are a great place to receive a sports or school physical. If time is of the essence, your primary care provider can provide same-day visits. Wait times are short and it’s important to have a primary care physician who knows your health history. If your child needs a sports or school physical, come to PrimeHealth Primary Care Bradenton. We are conveniently located at 3014 53rd Ave East, Bradenton, FL 34203. Contact us for more information or schedule an appointment! Our doors are open five days a week. We serve patients from Bradenton FL, Ellenton FL, Palmetto FL, Rubonia FL, Foxleigh FL, and West Samoset FL.